Gear guard



N. D. LEVIN Nov. 24, 1931.

GEAR GUARD Filed Sepl'.. 24,- 1929 Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED )STATES PATENT ori-lcs NILS D. LEVIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, v.A.SS1I('r1\TOR TG THE JEFFERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GEAR conan Application filed September 24, 1929. Serial No. 394,862.

This invention relates to lnewl and useful improvements in mine locomotive motor suspension and gear housings.

An important object of the present invention is to provide for easier and quicker repair and inspection of the axle assembly, commu'- tator assembly, andmotor parts with minimum work due to a particular division ot a sectional gear case and the location of points of attaching the sections to the motor housing. Heretotoreit has been necessary in some cases to remove the entireV motor from the frame in actual mine operations to repair the various parts of the motor, which is avery laborious operation and requires several hours time and the loss of use ofthe machine during the time of repair. Y

Another important obiect of the invention is to provide a construction which permits removal of the armature, shaft, and pinion with out necessitating removal of the gear case which houses the axle gear.- Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the description and wherein like numerals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the several views: 1

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an electric mine locomotive showing the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a top plan of one of the motors and axle assemblies detached from the locomotive. l

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Y Figure 4 is an elevation of the gear case showing the sections of the case separated and in their relative positions for associatiomand viewing these parts from theinner side of the locomotive. Y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a mine locomotive frame or chassis having atransverse cross beam 11 connecting the side rails of the frame substantially intermediate their ends as shown most clearlydn Figure 1. A pair of wheeled axles l12 have their ends journaled in journal boxes 13 provided inthe sides of the locomotive frame and an electric motor designated in its entirety by the numeral 14, has one end sup'- ported upon the axle which it drives and its opposite end suspended or'supported by a bracket V15 on a transverse cross beam 11 of the chassis. A twin motor arrangement is illustrated in the drawings, one motor for the drive of each axle of the locomotive, and since both motors and the gear cases associated therewith are of identically the same construction, a description of one will suffice for both.

. The motor casing or field frame 14 is divided in halt along a diagonalplane 16, into a lower section 17 and an upper section 18, both of which have registering apertured lugs 19 atthe four corners thereof for the passage of fastening bolts 2O for detachably connect- 'ing the two parts of the motor casing together and about the armature shaft 21. A commutator end bearing 22 forms the support for one end of the armature shaft 21 while a gear end bearing' 22 supports the other end ofthe shaft 21 and both are bolted bv bolts 23 to opposite sides ot the motor casing to overlap the plane ot separation of the two sections 17 and 18 thereof. as best seen in Figure 3. As shown in this figure. the gear end bearing 22 of the armature shaft is provided with an annular recess 24 to reduce weight. The pinion endet the armature shatt has a pinion 25 keyed thereto for mesh with an axle gear 26 keyed toone end ot the axle 12. This axle gear is mounted on roller bearings carried in opposite ends of an axle suspension cap 27 as clearly illustrated in my co-pending application Serial No. 350.635, tiled March 28. 1929. This axle suspension cap is com-v posed of a semi-cylindric body terminating at its en ds in cylindrical bearing portions for the roller bearings above described, and the semi-cylindric bodv portion is equipped with oppositely extending flanges 28 throughwhich bolts 29 are passed to screw intofthe lower section 17 of the motor caslng to support the axle 12 therein.

In order to support a lower section 30 Vof Y a sectional gear case upon the motor casing,4 100 the axle suspension cap 27 adjacent the axle gear 26 is equipped with apertured lugs 31 and 32 through which bolts 33 pass and are threaded into threaded apertures of a casting 34 secured to the inner side of the lower gear case section 30.

This lower section 30 of the gear case is substantially semi-circular to enclose the l0wer half of the axle gear 26 and the upper section 35 of the gear case is of similar construction to enclose the upper half of the axle gear, it beine particularly noted that the gear case is divided for separation on a horizontal line 36. These two sections of the gear case are detachably connected to- `gether by the provision of an inwardly extending` apertured lug 37 on each adapted for renistration and the passae'e of a 'fasteningholt 38. The upper section 35 of the .O'car case is provided with a laterally extending lug' 39 eouinped with a screw threaded aperture adapted for registration with the aperture in a lug 40 integral with the lower section 17 of the motor casinnr for the passage of a fastening bolt 4l whereby the gea-r case is detach ablv but rigidly supported upon the side of the motor casing to properly house the axle gear.

Part of the armature shaft 2l and its pinion 25 are housed hv one end of the sectional gear case as shown in Figure 3. and the other halves of these two elements are housed by a semi-circular miard 42 which may be considered a third part of the Qear case. rThis pinion .O'uard 42 is provided at top and bottom with outwardlv extending anertured iianges 43 through which pass fastening bolts 44 to extend into threaded openings in the ends of the upper and lower sections 30 and 35 of the aear ca se for detachablv connecting the pinion guard thereto and holding this end of the lgear case together. It is to be particularly noted that this pinion guard 42 is separated from the sections of the gear case on a vertical line 45. wherebv the pinion guard alone may be removed by removal of the bolts 44 to expose the end of the armature shaft carrying the pinion 25. As will be noted in Figure 3. the gear end bearing 22 is provided with a lateral tubular lubrieating lug 46 carrying a suitable fitting for lubrication of the armature shaft.

From the foregoing. it will be seen that the gear case includes three detachably connected sections. the sections 30 and 35 beingl separated on a horizontal line while the pinion guard section 42 is separated from these two sections on a vertical line 45. This particular division of the gear case and the relation of these points of division or separation with respect to the motor casing and axle suspension cap. greatly facilitates rapid inspection and repair of` anv of the parts of the motor or axle assemblies and obviates much laborious work in making necessary repairs or inspections While the locomotive is in active mine service. For example, the entire armature, armature shaft, and pinion 25 may be removed for inspection or repair without removing the entire axle gear case by removing the four bolts 44 which secure the pinion guard 42 to the gear case, the four bolts 20 connecting the upper section of the motor casing to the lower section 17 and removing the bolts 23 of the coimnutator end and gear end bearings 22 and 22 which extend into the lower section 17 of the motor casing. whereupon the upper half 18 of the field frame can be lifted off the motor, bringing with it the coinmutator, armature shaft, and the commutator shaft pinion 25. This operation does not disturb, in the least, either of sections 30 or 35 of the gear case.

lVhen it is desired to inspect and remove the axle assembly, the axle suspension cap 27 is disconnected from the lower section 17 of the mot-or casing by removal of the eight bolts 29 and disconnection of the two bolts 44 which connect the pinion guard 42 to the end of the lower section 3() of the gear case and upon removal of the bolt 33 cminecting the sections 30 and 35 of the gear case, the lower section 30, together with the axle suspension cap 27, may be removed, bringing with it the entire axle and axle gear 2G for ,95

inspection or repair. If total removal of the axle assembly is not required for an inspection or repair, only the upper section 35 of the gear case can be lifted otl' of the assembly by removing the upper bolts 44 which connect the pinion guard to the upper section 35 and removal of the bolts 38 and 4l which will release the upper section from the lowe: scction 30 as well as from the lower section of the motor casing.

From the foregoing it will be perfectly obvious that any of the parts of the motor and axle assembly are readily accessible with the minimum labor, and that the arrangement obviates the necessity of tearing down the entire assembly to inspect or repair any of the parts thereof.

It is to be understood that various clianges` 'in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing` from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a sectional motor casing having commutator and axle shafts mounted therein; of a gear case for housing portions of said shafts, said case composed of sections secured to one section of the motor casing and housing one of said shafts, and a cap housing the other shaft and secured to the gear case.

2. The combination with a sectional motor casing having comniutator and axle shafts mounted therein; of a gear vcase for housing portions of said shafts, said case composedof sections secured to one section of the motor casing and housing` one of said shafts, and a cap housing the other shaft and secured to both sections of the gear case.

3. rlhe combination with a sectional motor casing having commutator and axle shafts mounted therein; of a gear case for housing portions of said shafts, said case including sections secured to one section of said motor casing and housing said axle shaft, and a cap housing a portion of the commutator shaft and secured to both sections of the gear case whereby removal of the cap permits separation of the sections of the motor casing.

fl. rEhe combination with a sectional motor casing having commutator and axle shafts mounted therein; of a gear case for housing `oortions of said shafts, said case including horizontal separable sections secured to one section of said motor casing and housing said axle shaft, and a cap housing a portion of the commutator shaft and secured to both sections of the gear case on a vertical line Wherebv removal of the cap permits separation of the sections of the motor casing with the commutator shaft mounted in the removable motor casing section.

5. The combination with a sectional motor casing having commutator and axle shafts mounted therein, a commutator shaft bearing secured to both sections of the motor casing; of a gear case for housing portions o'f said shafts, said case including sections secured to one section of said motor casing and housing a portion of said axle shaft. and a cap housing a portion of said commutator shaft and secured to both sections of said case whereby removal of said cap permits separation of the motor casing sections with the commutator shaft and bearing carried by the removable motor casing section.

6. The combination with a motor casing having an axle mounted therein: of a gear case for housing a portion of said axle.v said case includingY sections detachablv secured to said casing, and an axle suspension cap secured to one of said sections.

7. The combination with a motor casing having an axle mounted therein: of a gear case for housing a portion of said axle. said case including sections detachably secured to said casing. and an axle suspension cap secured to one of said sections for removability therewith.

8. The combination with a motor casing havingI an axle mounted therein: of a gear case for housing a portion of said axle, said case including sections detachably secured together and to said casina'. and an axle bearing suspension cap secured to one of said sections.

9. The combination with a motor casing havinQ' an axle mounted therein: of a gear case for housing a portion of said axle. said case including sections detachably connected together, one of said sections being detachably connected to said motor casing, and an axle suspension cap secured toV one of said sections and detachably connected to said motor casing.

10. The combination With a motor casing, an axle suspension cap for mounting the axle on said casing; of a gear case 'for housing a portion of said axle, said case including a pair of separable sections, one of said sections being carried by said axle suspension cap and detachably connected to the other section, and said other section being detachably connected to said motor casing.

l1. The combination with a motor casing, an axle suspension cap for mounting axle on said casing, a commutator shaft mounted in said casing, of a gear oase including a pair of detachably connected sections housing a. portion of said axle, one of said sections being connected to said cap, and said gear case including a third section housing a portion of said shaft and detachably connected to said pair of case sections.

1Q. The combination with a motor casing having an axle mounted therein and a fastening lug; of a gear case forhousing a portion of said axle, said case including upper and lower sections, registering lugs on said sections for the passage of a bolt for detachably connecting the sections together, the lower section being secured to said motor casing, and the upper section having a lug registering with the motor casing lug for the passage of 1 a fastening bolt.

13. The combination With a motor casing comprising sections having bearings intersected at the line of separation of said sections, bearing members overlapping said line of separation and being detachably secured to said sections, a shaft mounted in said members and removable with one of said sections upon separation thereof from an adjacent section, a gear casing composed of sections secured to a section of the motor casing, one of said gear casing sections enveloping one end of said shaft and being removable to permit removability of the shaft with the removable motor casing section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my han'd.

NILS D. LEVIN. 

